Joselu: "At four years old I thought I was Zidane"

When Joselu Mato (Stuttgart, 33 years old) is asked why he is so happy, he answers that he really enjoys seeing his children being able to stay with their cousins, and with their grandparents, because they, his children, Leo and Lucas, six and three years old, they didn't know what it was like to have family around. Then yes, of course, then Joselu talks about what it's like to play for Madrid, and for the national team, and to have reached both places, to have reached the summit, at 32 years old.. “Everything has to be in harmony,” resolves someone who left home to be a footballer at the age of 11, to Celta, and then, at 19, to the Madrid youth academy, and then, at 22, to Germany, and then, with 25, to England, and then, at 29, he returned to Spain, and then…

And then, after his thirties, Joselu, a normal guy, a good guy, was called up by the senior team for the first time (in March) and Madrid got him back 11 years after letting him go.. He is not stupid, he knows what is said and written about him. But he shrugs his shoulders and asks, “What am I going to tell them?”

Why do you think young people are so devoted to you? What does it give to the kids? I don't know. I guess they see that I can be an example for them, they see that I left here when I was 20 years old and that the opportunity to return is always there.. An example of not giving up and that all work has its fruit. At those ages, kids begin to realize what they want to be, and when they ask me, I always say that through work and sacrifice, dreams can be fulfilled. It is a good message for youth.. I don't know if today's kids have assumed that culture of effort. It's what I try to convey not only to children, but also to players who are in the Second Division at 20 years old.. It is not an option to give up as soon as you start.. You never know when the opportunity will come. I have worked, I have had a hard time, but I have never given up, and I thought: “Why not?”. And look, I'm in Madrid.

But, at 27-28 years old, did you never think that you would not achieve it? No. Man, if you had told me that at 33 years old Madrid would sign me, I would have told you: “I don't believe you”. But not because I wasn't going to try.. I've always had that in my head. I have always believed that something good was going to come to me. I have sometimes taken a step back to take two steps forward, and the option of playing for the national team and for Madrid came to me when I was 33, but I am enjoying it as if I were 25 again. Who has helped you the most on this path? so long? Above all my wife, she has been a fundamental pillar. It has been the one that has accompanied me since I debuted in Primera. She is the one who has guided me, the one who has eaten all the brown ones, the one who has always been there. Now we are enjoying it, but along the way there have been very hard moments. Do you remember any of those hard days? They are moments that become something very personal. For me, football is not a sport, it is my entire life, and the bad moments are very difficult, but I have been lucky that she knew how to guide and redirect me.. I have reset several times in my life and it has been very good for me. How has your life changed? Playing for Madrid and being international is the best there is. Of course life changes you for the better. My wife's family is from Madrid, my family is very close, my children are with their cousins, with their grandparents.. The eldest is six years old and had never experienced it, and that gives you a bonus, seeing that your family is calm is great.. Being in Madrid is the dream of my entire life. Is maturity referring to children when talking about happiness?. For me, my family, my wife, my children, it is the most important thing.. To be happy everything has to be in harmony and we have found it this year.

My mother says I look like a criminal because of my tattoos.

Is Madrid as big as it seems from the outside? Much more. And it shows in everything. What it feels like when you put on that shirt, and step into that stadium…. There are people who leave a salary to be able to go see Real Madrid. You are not aware until you are inside and you know that you are in the greatest team in the world. What did you learn from everything that happened with Rubiales? These are episodes that have happened, at the time we made a statement and with that we settled what happened. Let's see how I ask him this.. I don't know if you are aware that there are people who think: 'Joselu, at 33 years old, doesn't even believe where he is, in Real Madrid and in the Spanish national team'. Yes, of course I am aware. And what does he tell you? ?What am i going to say! These are people who do not value what a person does during an entire career.. I try to abstract myself a little from the negative comments. I don't give it importance. I'm really enjoying it. You seem like a normal guy, except for the tattoos, if you'll allow me. That's what my mother says, that I look like a criminal. And what do you say to your mother? Every time she tells me that, I tell her: ” I'm going to make another one” [laughs]. I have both entire arms, the entire left leg tattooed…And what do your children say to you? The children have participated in the selection of some. And what will you do when they want to get one at 14 or 15 years old? No no, Not at 15 years old.

Joselu, forward for Madrid and the national team. PABLO GARCÍA RFEF But if nothing happens, right? Yes, but not at 15 years old. How many were you the first with? Step word [laughs out loud]. What is the best thing about being a footballer? Being able to enjoy a profession that I have liked since I was born. Being able to make a living from this. And the worst? Maybe when you are not able to withstand the pressure or not being able to lead a normal life. But none of that happens to me. I try to enjoy it as much as possible because there will come a time when it will end. Sometimes it feels like footballers live oblivious to everything, in their bubble. It depends on the player.. It's just that sometimes it's difficult, because there are players who can't go out.. Vinicius, Bellingham… They can't go out on the street, they are not normal people in that sense, and mentally you have to be very strong. Who is the most critical person of you? People who know me, when I leave a game angry, if I don't I call or ask, they know it's better not to ask. If I go two days without talking to someone, my parents for example, the next question is: “How are the kids?”

I try to enjoy it as much as possible because there will come a time when it will end.. I have done a 'reset' several times in my life, and it has been very good for me.

Have you thought about what you will do when football is over? No, because I don't plan to retire.. They ask me this a lot, and it makes me angry, because I say: “Joe, these bastards already want me to retire!” What do you think I would have been if I hadn't been a footballer? A cafre [laughs]. No, I do not know. I left home at the age of 11 for the Celta youth team because I already felt like a footballer and I didn't really like studying. I consider myself a soccer player since I was four years old. That he knew he was going to make a living from football? Well, obviously not, but when I was four years old I thought I was Zidane, that is to say, I loved soccer so much that I truly believed I was a soccer player.